Heri za Kwanzaa!
Happy Kwanzaa!
As the horizon of 2025 looms with radical uncertainty, let us rise with unwavering resolve. Now, more than ever, we must embody the spirit and purpose of Kwanzaa—honoring our ancestors, exalting the richness of African and African American culture, and fortifying the bonds of family and community.
Let us anchor ourselves in the power of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles that light our path and bind us together:
- Umoja (Unity), the heartbeat of our collective strength.
- Kujichagulia (Self-determination), the fire of our identity and voice.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), the shared labor that lifts us all.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), the foundation of our shared prosperity.
- Nia (Purpose), the compass guiding our journey.
- Kuumba (Creativity), the spark that renews and inspires.
- Imani (Faith), the unshakable belief in ourselves and our future.
To covenant these principles daily is to forge an unbreakable shield—one that prepares us to confront storms and triumph over tribulations. In their embrace, we are reminded of who we are and to whom we belong. Let us stand firm, building a morally rooted, empowered community that no force can divide.
Heri za Kwanzaa! Let the light of these principles guide us forward, bold and unyielding
Slavery is Legal in the US
The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865, to abolish slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation, declared by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War, only freed slaves held in Confederate states. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation become national policy.
The Thirteenth Amendment states, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
However, it was with this exception, “as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,” that a new form of slavery rapidly developed. After the Civil War, black codes and other discriminatory laws made it easy for local officials to arrest African Americans for minor infractions. Convict labor became a significant source of revenue in some states via convict leasing to private individuals and companies. The practice grew in prevalence and scope such that by 1898, 73% of Alabama’s state revenue came from convict leasing.
Legal slavery in the United States continues today due to this “Slavery Clause” loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment. The corruption of our criminal justice system, with discrimination fueling mass incarceration, has continued through the War on Drugs, the proliferation of the three-strike laws, severe plea deals, and harsh mandatory minimum policies.
In 2023, Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams reintroduced the Abolition Amendment, which would remove this loophole. To live up to our nation’s promise of justice for all, Congress must take the long overdue step and finally end the morally reprehensible practice of slavery in the US.
The Power of the Small
December 5th marks the anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which served as the springboard for the Civil Rights Era. In 1955, the Montgomery bus boycott began in Alabama in response to Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a municipal bus to a white man. The African American community organized the boycott until December 20, 1956, when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling integrated the public transportation system.
The boycott organization reminds us of Margaret Mead's quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
This seems particularly relevant today as individuals and groups consider how to address the current tax on democracy, DEI, voting rights, and other recent reversals of inclusionary actions. If we look back on what the citizens of Montgomery were able to accomplish, it doesn’t appear overwhelming or insurmountable.
As we highlight the bus boycott, we want to acknowledge the role of women. In 1946, the Women’s Political Council (WPC) started protesting the Montgomery city buses. The WPC also played a pivotal role, organizing it through a door-to-door campaign in a matter of days. As a result, most of Montgomery's 50,000 African American residents participated in the boycott. They walked, carpooled, took taxis, or hitchhiked to get to work or school.
In reflecting on the outcome, King said of the bus boycott: “We came to see that, in the long run, it is more honorable to walk in dignity than ride in humiliation.” King’s role in the bus boycott garnered international attention, and the tactic of mass nonviolent protest became the model for challenging segregation and racial oppression in the South.